Some Companies Claim Workers
Are Exempt or Raise Output Goals

William Shinbane was seething. The workers at his Fisherman's Outlet restaurant in Los Angeles had just joined a union and wanted to be paid overtime.

At a meeting last year, he pointed to a time clock, said their hours now would be recorded precisely and vigorously suggested they would regret giving up a life not tied to punching a clock. "This is what you want, this is what you're going to get!" he shouted. "You're going to get it!"